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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

The toad came last night!

13 years ago

Many toad arrived last night for a party at my pond. It was quite thrilling since the pond is 3 years old and these are the first toads.

I also did my spring clean today and when I pulled out a particular plant, there were many stings of black pearls encased in the jelly like substance. I was AMAZED! I took the plant out and had my BF remove as much of the strands as possible and I put them in a bucket to see if they will hatch. I have no aerator in there though. I was truly amazed at the vast amount of them.

I'm truly never queazy, but that stuff made me a little woozie. I'd like to hatch a few just for the experience so if someone can tell me how to successfuly do this I'd appreciate it.

As I type, the mating calls are starting again, and there are answers to the calls. I will probably have more strands tomorrow.

If anyone in Austin wants any, please let me know.

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Comments (9)

diggery
13 years ago
I usually just leave them and sit back & watch the show =] Any particular reason you removed them from the pond?
bluelake
Original Author
13 years ago
Well, I removed them since the pond is only 900 gallons and there were close to 4000 eggs. I'm sure many didn't get removed. The next night, same thing, but less eggs. Many of these are still in the pond and I'm sure I'll have at least 1000 tadpoles. But they are back out there tonight so this appears to be an ongoing thing and I don't know if my neighbors appreciate the noise. I like it for the most part, but it is L O U D!

When I'm on the phone people ask me where I am, ... "the Amazon?"

I definitely won't mind having toads, but I don't want the amount that when I walk I have to be afraid of stepping on them constantly, or mowing them down. I'll be grateful for their bug eating reputation.
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lisa11310
13 years ago
You can never have too many toads!
bluelake
Original Author
13 years ago
But Lisa, you're in MI, I'm in TX. Our toads will overwinter much easier here and multiply by tens of 1,000's.

I think that you can have too many toads. Would you want to have to tip-toe through your yard, be afraid to mow, be afraid to have people in your yard because your yard has 1,000 toads? I'd rather cull the population in egg stage rather than smashing full grown toads underfoot and mowing their heads off. I guess it's personal preference.
goodkarma_
13 years ago
I love the mating sounds and the toads sure are cute. Here in Ohio I have lots of tadpoles and will be catching little toads and relocating many. And I can so relate in how upsetting it can be to accidently kill the little guys.
louie_gardner
13 years ago
We have toads here size of kittens . You are all very lucky to have native insect eating toads as they are harmless and just fantastic to have around.

They are gone in my area only the jumbo marine toads.

http://img408.imageshack.us/i/bufo.jpg/
coachshaffett
13 years ago
Woke up to find many many tadpoles in the pond. Is that my new Koi/GF food?: )
goodkarma_
13 years ago
Coach- I don't think so. My fish won't touch them.
garden_mama_66
13 years ago
Hey Bluelake! I'm in Beaumont and have been hearing the toads calling for a week or two. Then last night I had two "couples" in my little pond. They were still there this morning and now I have tons of eggs. I'm not too worried about over population. I have cats that love to hunt.

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